I just struggled to walk back from taking the dog out for a walk, my feet were hurting like mad I was wheezing away and I was very slow! I hate this business of getting old! Reminded me that I will be 66 in a couple of weeks, scary…
Just back from USA and pretty much over my jet-lag! I had gone to Boston to support my survivor friend Helen who was in a documentary “Who takes away the sins” and asked me to go to it’s first showing. Great to meet her, after SKYPING and e mailing for…
I am so fed up with answering the same bloody questions about this wretched pope! The latest reporter to ask me to comment was today, about pope Francis and his “robust stand on child sexual abuse by the clergy.” PLEASE!!!!! There IS no new stance, Francis is just churning out…
It’s hard to think about all the myriad of ludicrous ideas that were crammed into my unprotected mind as I grew up in the superstitious fiercely catholic household, where everything but breathing was sinful. But as I reflect on the happenings of the last week,and I see the cardinal hold…
Hell in a handcart I have been waiting for some kind os inspiration before I talk about the popes resignation, and the latest cardinals scandal etc.etc. etc. I didn’t get any! I think my cynicism must get very much in the way of it! But I did have one thought.…
An Open letter regarding the removal of Jimmy Savile’s “papal knighthood” Dear Sirs, It is with a wry, arched eyebrow that I read that Vincent Nichols has decided to write to Rome to ask that the papal knighthood be removed for Jimmy Savile and that in response Frederico Lombardi has…
Sunday, 21 October 2012 The season of grief Today I feel like shit, it is nothing that anyone can do, nothing indeed that I can do, it is just one of those days when the thick unpenetrable armour that I usually wear must be in the wash! Everything around me…
Some people are just meant to be on the “outside”! For most of my adult life, I have been looking for a place to belong, I have always felt somewhat “homesick” although for what I couldn’t say.I always envied people who knew exactly who they were, where they came from,…
Could there BE anything worse? I am reeling today from a shock to my system! This morning’s work was to gather more research to further demonstrate the severity of brain damage to clergy sexual abuse survivors, largely to add to our workshop “Brains Bombs and Baddies “. We know a…
I was at a lecture during “Think Week ” in Oxford in February. The committee had very kindly nominated Survivors Voice Europe as their chosen charity, a great honour for us. It was even better because I was able to go to many of the talks, and the dinners, and…
